Army of Shadows (L'armee des ombres) is a 1969 French movie directed by the legendary Jean-Pierre Melville. Not released here in the States until 2006, this movie follows the lives of several members of the French Resistance during World War 2. This drama is not your typical guns blazing, bombs exploding WW2 flick, but rather examines the stress and mental toll that being a member of a hunted underground movement has on the individual. Adapted from a book by Joseph Kessel, it draws heavily on Kessel's own experiences during the war.
I highly recommend this film to any interested in World War 2 or French cinema, actually I recommend it to everyone. It is emotional and complex. The characters wade through the constant paranoia and morally ambiguous lives of freedom fighters, struggling with the decisions they have to make that change their very character. These weren't military men, but rather ordinary, everyday men and women, thrust into extraordinary circumstances. An emotional and perfectly executed early scene involves three men charged with "taking care of" an informant. The decision to kill someone is one thing, but having to carry it out in cold blood with a pleading young victim is another. The performances are fantastic and the scene, as well as the whole movie left me a bit drained.
Here's the trailer:
